Contact lens case - single hand operation

ABSTRACT

A contact lens case which provides single hand operation to reduce finger touchpoints, subsequent risk of contamination, improves hygiene and user convenience. The unique innovative design is molded of plastic and assembled using three components: a single lid which includes two axles protruding vertically from its underside and a separate pair of vessels which are identical to one another and incorporate bowl receptacles for storage of contact lenses. The vessels snap onto the axles of the lid and swing horizontally to open and to close.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for storing contact lenses.

b. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

All prior art of contact lens cases are outdated in design and function. There is no prior art that is similar to the present invention beyond being contact lens cases which carry contact lenses with two separate bowls sealed in fluid. No currently available case can be held and simultaneously operated with one hand. No currently available case uses a single lid along with two separate components for lens receptacle bowls. No currently available case uses a vertical axle for horizontal swing of open and close function for individual bowls. There are only two prior art subjects of interest known to applicant. The first is U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,376 B2 Title CONTACT LENS CASE with Inventors: Frans Mahieu et. al. and assignee Novartis A G. This patent is significant because of its claims of providing single hand operation and with a single lid. Their claims do not pertain to this present application because their single hand operation requires their case to be rested on a flat surface/counter to be opened with one hand. It is not practical and it is not designed to open the unit with the same hand by which it is held. Their lid design is a single lid covering two bowls which are integrated into one separate body. Their single lid covering two bowl receptacles opens and closes vertically. Significant differences include that this present application contact lens case functions with one lid, two component vessels for separate bowl receptarles which swing from axles which are an integral part of the lid and can be operated by the same hand which holds the assembly. Their (U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,376 B2) case also incorporates hinges on the underside of the lid to hold lenses in baskets for multifunctional purpose of both cleaning and storing of contact lenses.

The second prior art instance of significance might be a competition which present application inventor entered on July 1, 2013 (NASA Techbriefs Create the Future design contest). That competition was entered by inventor of present application in an attempt to raise funds for product development and pay for patenting process. That prior art publication was a similar concept by the same inventor and was significantly different from the current design. A provisional application was made by the inventor for that 2013 design within weeks of the competition (application No. 61/859,258 filing date Jul. 28, 1913). This provisional patent had been abandoned unintentionally. Subsequently, another provisional application (continued as of this application) was filed Apr. 8, 2015 (Application No. 61/178,346). The 2015 61/178,346 design is significantly different than the 2013 61/859,258 provisional. Among other differentiations, the 2015 provisional design had an additional (fourth) part and a screw was required for assembly. This current non-provisional application utilizes design elements which are unique innovations required for desired function that distinguish it as new and novel unto itself. This application specifies such traits. Both of the aforementioned prior art issue related documents are attached along with a PTO/SB/08a Information Disclosure form.

Current contact lens cases on the market significantly contribute to eye disease and infection. Exhaustive public and private studies including those by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all recognize eye infection and disease caused by use of contact lenses to be a significant socio-economic health problem and consider currently available lens cases to be the hub of contamination with drawbacks that compromise hygienic routine use and call for solutions.

Inconvenient ergonomics of currently available cases contribute to inadequate hygienic user routines recommended by the FDA, CDC and industry authorities (especially during frequent non-ideal unpleasant circumstances and unclean environs such as public bathroom counters).

Currently available lens cases ergonomics result in excessive finger touch points during use. Each surface touched Increases chance of contamination and subsequent eye infection/disease risk. They are impractical, dysfunctional, unbalanced, inconvenient, have precarious lock mechanisms, loose droppable lids, and commonly leak, all of which disrupt user routines.

Currently available contact lens cases incorporate three components. Each uses one primary vessel body which incorporates two lens receptacle recessed bowls and two separate lid closure components (one for each receptacle).

Currently available cases utilize three types of lid closure methods. The three types of lids include: 1) Twist-on helix threaded torque lids without thether to primary vessel component with bowls. 2) Snap shut lids are tethered to the bowl vessel by a ‘living’ hinge. 3) Latch lock lids are affixed to the primary vessel using metal pins horizontal axis hinges which open upward. Each of these designs prevent single handed use. Single hand use'reduces touch points of the hand/finger(s) used as a part of the user routine and to insert the lens into the eye.

The most prevalent existing cases (the twist on threaded lid) risk dropping the detachable untethered lids. The snap-fit lids with tethered living-hinges with are precarious and unbalanced and have tabs which easily snag and spill. The oases which use horizontal metal axle hinges are overly small ergonomically and have uneven leverage compression against lid gaskets. The lids rely on latches on the opposite side of the axle pins which easily snag and spill. The silicone gaskets act as an opening spring.

Lens cases currently available incorporate molded ridges and crevices in close proximity to the lens receptacles for torque threads, and/or, integration of gaskets (such as O-rings). Every ridge or crevice accumulates dirt and germs which increase contamination risk.

The routine operation of prevalent lens cases usually entails the instances such as: after washing hands, one hand is used to hold the primary body and the other to touch (or twist) open one receptacle lid. the body and/or lid are held precariously (ie in the palm) and/or rested on a surface (such as a frequently wet counter, or, sink).

If the lid is removed prior to washing hands there is significant risk of water splashing into the receptacle. Water is one of the primary sources of contamination. If the lid is removed after washing hands it requires touchpoints. It is unlikely that users wash and dry hands between closing the first lid and opening the second. The lens is then removed from the bowl receptacle with fingers that have touched unclean surfaces after being washed. There are a variety of ways and sequences users perform their use routines. Invariably, several surfaces touched can be avoided by use of the present invention.

The drawbacks of currently available cases described above contribute to both risk of contamination and consumer inconvenience. There are touchpoints throughout the process in using any currently available cases. The present design of this application can reduce the number of touchpoints and improve convenience.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a contact lens case which can be operated using a single hand by unique ergonomic design.

It is another object of the present invention to reduce the number of touchpoints during operation to improve convenience and hygiene.

It is another object of the present invention to substantially prevent leaks and spills of contact lens solution from the bowls.

It is another object of the present invention to reduce the accumulation of dirt in and on the contact lens case by design with fewer extraneous crevices in proximity to bowls without use of ‘o’ ring gaskets, pin hinges, living hinges, external latches, threaded closures and on and within interior of bowl caps.

The Effects to be Obtained from the Invention: Single handedly, this innovative contact lens case uniquely incorporates the torque compression of vertical axis hinge and horizontal swing instead of threads, or, crevices in close proximity to lens receptacle and with no risk of dropping a lid.

This contact tens case invention facilitates hygiene routines aligned with FDA and CDC guidelines than existing cases. With fewer surfaces touched prior to touching the eye and with fewer crevices close to the lenses, contamination is less likely. Improved convenience encourages more frequent and effective sanitary routines which improve user confidence, consumer loyalty, peace of mind and reduced risk of eye infection/disease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of the contact lens case will provide a better in depth understanding of its parts and various functions. The drawings will outline individual sections of the article and its purposes as relating to contact lens case. The first drawing depicts the present invention assembled as used during operation from a perspective which shows the three components (two vessels and one lid). This first drawing is designated generally as (FIG. 1). The references made are as follows:

FIG. 1. is a view of all three components as assembled with one of the two vessels open revealing integral bowl receptacle.

FIG. 2 shows top plan view as assembled with one of the two vessels open.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of all three components as assembled with both vessels closed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of all three components revealing snap-lock attributes of assemblage, the functionality between lid, its integral extruded axles and the pair of vessels.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom of the lid and its' integral axles.

FIG. 6 is a side view of all three components assembled with both vessels closed cross cut marks indicating view in FIG. 7 which shows only top-down axle parts of the lid.

FIG. 7 is a top-down plan view of the vessels with cross sectional view including only lid axles along line of 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a close up view of the middle section of FIG. 7 with one vessel open to reveal further details of the snap-fit assemblage, rotation and locking functions between the lid axles and the vessels.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the bottom side of FIG. 8 vessels with one rotated open.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the bottom of all three components assembled revealing abutment of vessels and their alignment with the lid.

Key to Symbols

10: Contact lens case assembled all three components including pair of vessels and lid; 11: Lid with integral axles; 12: Vessels with integral bowl recess receptacles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A fuller understanding of the present invention will be provided through the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the contact lens case three components which are collectively indicated as functioning assemblage by reference numeral 10. The three components of the contact lens case comprise a one piece lid 11 component and a pair of identical vessels 12. Each vessel 12 incorporates a receptacle bowl 14 designed to retain a contact lens and wetting fluid and to accommodate finger pinching to deposit and retrieve lenses. The third component lid 11 seals both vessel bowls by compression. The lid incorporates two vertical axles 17 to which each vessel attaches and hinges upon for horizontal swing providing vertical torque to compress the vessel upper surfaces 13 against the bottom side of the lid 11. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the horizontal swing of the vessels 12 on the axles 17 exposes the receptacle bowl 14 when open to retrieve and deposit lenses. The assemblage 10 with both vessels closed is illustrated by FIG. 3. To expose the receptacle bowl fully with the minimum amount of radius swing, the lid has a slight indented curve 16 from outer edge toward center as seen in illustrations FIG. 2, FIG. 5. The vessels are affixed to the axles by using a snap lock method. The lid axles are visible in FIG. 4. The axles cores 17 each have a middle band of slightly larger circumference 19. The band 19 prevents the vessel from falling off of the axles vertically. When the vessel is horizontally snapped onto the axle, the band 19 abutts and rests in the vessel corresponding inner groove 20 and the core axle 17 above 19 abutts and rests against vessel surface 18 and the core axle 17 below 19 abutts and rests against vessel surface 22. The outer wall of the vessel point of entry for the axle 23 is angled for the axle to snap into place when pushed horizontally. When the axle is in place, its bottom is concealed by 40. This prevents debris from entering the axle area.

Locking mechanisms to keep vessels closed will be provided by several snap-lock pressure point combinations including between axles, vessels and lid. This points are illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and, FIG. 8. Each axle has a protrusion outside of its circumference facing toward the opposite side 39 best illustrated in FIG. 5. This protrusion 39 incorporates two vertical grooves 36, 37 parallel to the axle core cylinder 17. FIG. 5 shows the grooves from bottom up plan perspective. Each vessel has two vertical protrusions, 31 and 26 which correspond accordingly with the grooves. When the vessels are closed, the protrusion 26 rests in axle groove 37 and vessel protrusion 31 rests in axle groove 36. Because of slight differences in distance between axles the protrusions 31 and 26 snap tightly into axle groove 36 and 37 respectively. This creates a dual snap lock which holds the vessel in place when not forced open by placing thumb on top of the lid and using index finger to push open the vessel.

FIG. 9. Shows the swing clearance of vessel base of axle point 40 swing under protrusion 31 at cut point edge bottom 41. The circumference clearance of the axle base element is indicated by edge reference 29. Surface 24 of the axles protrusion 39 stops the rotation of the vessel at the appropriate point when vessel surface 23 reaches it. This prevents the vessel from opening beyond the lid edge 16.

To bolster the seal between receptacles and the lid, an overmold of softer material of compliant health grade might be used on the underside of the lid. By using the entire underside of the lid for gasket overmold purposes there is no need for grooves to accommodate “o” rings and other methods such as silicone gaskets with dimples and other creviced means of attaching soft seals.

Manufacturing/Materials: This contact lens case invention will be manufactured using predicate healthful, recyclable, antistatic, non-toxic carefully selected premium grade materials such as such as polypropylene with Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) overmold on the lid underside and/or top surface of vessel receptacles. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A contact lens case, comprising: An assembly of three components including a single lid 11 and a pair of separate vessels
 12. 2. The contact lens case of claim 1, comprises two vessels each of which incorporates a bowl receptacle to store contact lenses.
 3. The vessels of claim 2, comprises each of said vessels being pivotally mounted to said housing 11 using two axle protrusions from the bottom side of lid for horizontal swing.
 4. The contact lens case of claim 1, comprises a molded lid having a smooth surface on the bottom and two axles protruding from the bottom which are designed to provide torque for seal, accommodate proper opening radius with stop action at full open and closed positions, locks for closed position, means of preventing vessels from sliding down off of the axles, means for easy snap on function for the vessels to be attached and detached for cleaning. The Lid, is also, but not exclusively designed with a indentation to provide access to the bowl with least opening radius of the vessel in juxtoposition of the lid. 